Rarely do quarterbacks with a 40.6 completion percentage draw positive reviews, but Ponder's stat line in Sunday's 33-27 loss - 13 of 32, 219 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions and a 59.2 passer rating - belied his potential as a playmaker.

Ponder took chances.

When necessary, he stayed in the pocket to deliver throws instead of taking off.

And he eased the pressure on a much-maligned offensive line with his ability to throw on the run and convert third downs, giving running back Adrian Peterson room to maneuver in the process.

"That's what we're hoping, that he will just continue to gain more confidence, get more comfortable with some of the things that we're doing and continue to grow as a quarterback," coach Leslie Frazier said Monday. "If that does happen, we should continue to develop and come together as a football team as well."

Ponder could have improved his accuracy Sunday by checking down, but instead, he spent most of the game focusing on moving the ball downfield.

In the fourth quarter, all five of Ponder's completions were for first downs, totaling 93 yards and a touchdown on 5-of-13 passing. A few telegraphed interceptions in the third quarter didn't stop Ponder from delivering tough throws late in the game.

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The Vikings struggled on third-down conversions with Donovan McNabb, but Frazier was quick to point out that Ponder completed 56 percent of his third-down attempts.

Ponder averaged 16.8 yards per completion, a substantial improvement from McNabb's 10.9. Only two of Ponder completions were shorter than nine yards.

The past two months gave Ponder time to digest most of the playbook, which allowed him to execute passes from play action, out of the shotgun or on a five-step drop.

The two interceptions into the hands of Packers cornerback Charles Woodson in the third quarter didn't dissuade Ponder from targeting Woodson on Michael Jenkins' 24-yard touchdown with 7:51 left.

Ponder endured a 5-for-17 stretch that included six straight incompletions to move the offense efficiently in the fourth quarter.

That Ponder survived a game that required a lot of responsibility against an opportunistic defense should pay dividends for the Vikings down the road.

"That gives you a lot of hope as we go forward," Frazier said.

The Packers managed two sacks on Ponder, but the Vikings lost only two total yards on them. Ponder is buying the offensive line time.

The offense also was quicker with Ponder in the game, easing the pressure on the line to hold blocks for more than a few seconds.

"(Teammates) really feel as if he's in charge, and they kind of rally from that," Frazier said. "The fact that he's not afraid, which in our league is how you have to be; you have to be smart about what you're doing, but you can't play scared."

The rookie learning curve coupled with Ponder's capacity for risk could result in interceptions over the next few months. In McNabb, the Vikings had a safe quarterback who avoided turnovers.

"I thought he did a great job," McNabb said. "I thought he was very relaxed. Obviously, (there are) some throws that he would love to have back, but that's part of the frustration that's been going on all year of just momentum goes your way, then kind of shifts. You look up at the scoreboard at the end and we have nothing to show for it. I think he's going to continue to grow, and getting these repetitions is really going to help him out for the future."